106 J. Nicklés on a New Kind of Electro-magnet. 
without, and my reasoning with reference to it was dictated to 
some extent by an observation which will be the subject of a 
future communication. As the experiments are not finished, I 
will make but a few remarks. 
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Fig. 1, a section from v to z (see fig. 3); fig.2, a section from z to y; fig. 3, an upper view: 
I have for some time tried to increase the adhesion of the mo- 
tor wheels of locomotive engines by the aid of electro-magnet 
_ism, and have made a preliminary trial in connection wit 
Amberger, a mechanic. The apparatus used consisted essentially 
of a helix lodged in a spool of brass and made to cone 
found that when a strong current was passed, we could give the 
- wheel at the point of contact sufficient magnetism to increase its 
adhesion. 
A trial on a large scale has been made by me on the railroad 
from Paris to Lyons with a locomotive of 28 tons weight, draw- 
ing a train of about 100 tons, on a grade of ten millimetres incline 
tion. An official report given to the minister of the publie works, 
states that in this first trial we obtained through the magnetism 
about nine per cent. of additional adhesion. The attraction 04 
state of rest was 650 kilogrammes per wheel, or 1300 kilogrammes 
for a pair of wheels. 4 Be 
It is apparent, that when such a force is concentrated on a tab 
gential point, the magnetized surface must be of considerable © 
tent. In fact, the magnetic radiation was very perceptible at # 
distance of more than eight metres, and at two metres the 
ratus would easily cause two bars of iron weighing 5U0 grammes 
to adhere, © font see SE iagld § 
‘This radiation, which proceeds partly from the magnet and 
partly from the helix, embarasses the results, producing especially 
a loss of force, and 1 have sought to get rid of it. I will say . 
another occasion how this difficulty is removed for the spe ial case 
of wheels ; [here only state that I have in the presence of this 
radiation conducted the experiments before mentioned ; and thins 
I have conceived the idea of taking three plates of iron united 
perpendicularly to a fourth plate, and of placing the wire only 
on the central arm, in the manner explained. 
